Hajin shuts to protest civilian killings

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 26

A shutdown was observed at Hajin in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Saturday against the killing of a 36-year-old man on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday.

Hajin residents staged a protest against the killing of the civilians. All shops remained shut to protest the killings.

While the police blame the Lashkar-e-Toiba for slitting the throat of Mohammad Yaqoob Wagay, 36, a resident of Gunda Preng, Hajin, the militant group, in an unverified audio clip, has denied any role in the two recent killings, including that of Wagay.

“It is the handiwork of Indian agencies to defame us (militants) and create a rift between the public and militants,” the audio clip of the Lashkar claimed.

Despite a shutdown, the situation in Hajin remained normal. At least five civilians have been killed by gunmen in the past nearly two months in Hajin.